Lionel Halsey

Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, (26 February 1872 – 26 October 1949) was a Royal Navy officer and courtier. Early life and career Halsey was born in London, the fourth son of Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, 1st Baronet. After primary education at Stubbington House, Fareham, Hampshire, he entered the Britannia in January 1885. He was commissioned a sub-lieutenant on 14 July 1891. In July 1893 he was posted to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert and was promoted lieutenant on 28 August 1893. He served with the Mediterranean Fleet and then on the North America and West Indies Station, before joining . In the Second Boer War he commanded a battery of naval guns in the Defence of Ladysmith, for which he was mentioned in despatches and promoted commander on 1 January 1901. He was posted to the cruiser as executive officer and served in her in the Mediterranean until June 1902, when he was posted to the signal school at HMS Victory. From October 1902 he served as Executive Officer and second in command of , which was the following month commissioned to convey Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, on his tour of South Africa in late 1902 and early 1903. On their return, the Good Hope was commissioned as flagship of the Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet. In January 1905 Halsey was appointed Naval Member of the new Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Committee at the Admiralty, and was promoted captain on 30 June 1905. In August 1905 he took command of Powerful, as flag captain to Sir Wilmot Fawkes as Commander-in-Chief Australia Station. In April 1911 he was given command of in the 4th Cruiser Squadron and in 1912 took over the new battlecruiser on her cruise around the world to "show the flag". It was during this cruise that Halsey was given a Māori war skirt which he wore during the naval battles at Heligoland and Dogger Bank. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 8 December 1913. On 19 September 1914 he was appointed a Naval Aide-de-camp to the King. First World War After the outbreak of the First World War, Halsey commanded the New Zealand at the Battle of Heligoland and the Battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915, for which he was again mentioned in despatches. During the battles Halsey wore the Māori piupiu over his uniform, setting a tradition followed for the duration of the war. . In June 1915 he became Captain of the Fleet to Sir John Jellicoe in with the rank of commodore 1st class.